The industrial complex in North Korea's border city of Kaesong ground to a halt after North Korea unilaterally withdrew all of its 53,000 workers in early April, forcing 123 South Korean companies there to stop operations.
The exact losses incurred by the South Korean investors have been unknown but estimates vary from around 1 trillion won (US$910 million) to around 3 trillion won.
One source at the Ministry of Unification, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said survey sheets were sent out last week for the 123 companies to declare their losses in the coming days.
"The companies should return the surveys in the next few days and then the government can have a clearer picture of losses," the official said, declining to be identified.
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Following its decision to pull out all of its workers on April 3, North Korea barred South Korean access to the industrial complex while allowing those already there to leave.
The last seven South Koreans returned home from the factory zone on Friday after settling some outstanding issues. The settlement included payment of $13 million in worker wage, taxes and utility charges, according to ministry officials.
South Korean officials said the shutdown was temporary, keeping alive their hope for reopening the zone which has long been considered the last remaining symbol of rapprochement on the volatile Korean Peninsula.
The same ministry source said that once all damage reports are tallied, the government will work out measures to provide necessary financial and other assistance to each affected investor.
The government already pledged last week to provide 300 billion won in emergency funds to help Kaesong investors.
The industrial zone, which combined cheap North Korean labor with the South's technology and capital, was the result of the historic 2000 summit between late South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and the then North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il.
Ground was broken for the complex in June 2003 with the first products coming off the assembly line in late 2004. Its cumulative output is estimated at $2.05 billion, with the value of last year's production hitting a record $469.5 million.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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